The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) September 30 said it will push for the Philippines to have a bigger share of Europe’s annual $9.50 billion organic market.

The ECCP’s Fairs & More Inc. (FMI), a leading trade fair organizer in the country, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) is bringing 22 companies to Anuga in Germany – the largest food and beverage fair in the world.

ECCP vice president for external affairs Henry Schumacher said Europe is the ideal market for the Philippines considering its rapid increase in demand for organic products.

“From supermarkets to butcher shops and bakeries, there is now a very strong demand for organic fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meats. Most of them are the very same products the country is looking forward to export,” Schumacher said.

He added: “Germany and France alone represent two of the three biggest markets for organic products in the world. The presence in Anuga is a step in the right direction for the country.”

In Anuga, the Philippines will have its own pavilion at the Fine Food Section that will be led by the DTI’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions and DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service.

Aside from organic products, the ECCP also sees a lot of potential for the Philippines to export energy drinks and coconut water to European countries.

“The trend in energy drinks in Europe is to now have coconut water as one of its key component. Again, the Philippines is in a good position to supply coconut water to them,” Schumacher said. Manila Bulletin